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Political figures and celebrities share one common fate when they rise too fast in the public awareness – overexposure. Add to that Palin's hesitation to participate in certain types of interviews and the resulting media frenzy over everything, Palin reached its zenith some time ago. Now, as the 2012 race takes shape, she's in a better position to do the kind of evaluation required to decide whether to enter the race.

Ultimately, I don't think she'll run. But her decision now can be made without the white-hot glare that has been on her in months past, where the media picks over and parses each word.

One cautionary note from Iowans, however, is that the caucuses are coming, and there are way more than 140 characters that will need attending to. If she runs, she will have to meet literally thousands of characters, asking all kinds of questions about policy big and small. Time will tell if she's willing to take the plunge. But the clock is ticking.

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